A display device for capturing and displaying images along a single optical axis. The device includes a display panel having a front side and a back side, said display panel capable of being placed in a first display state which allows displaying of an image on said front side for viewing of an image and a second transmissive state wherein said display panel becomes substantially transmissive so as to allow capture of an image of an object positioned in front of said front side of said display panel. An image capture device is provided for capturing said objective image through said display panel when said display device is in the second transmissive state. An image supply source is provided for providing an image to said display panel when said display panel is in said first display state and a mechanism for alternating placing said display panel between said first display state and second transmissive state such that an image can be viewed on said display screen and said object can be captured in a manner such that said alternating between said first display state and said second transmissive state is substantially imperceptible to a user of said display panel.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A display device for capturing and displaying images along a single optical axis, comprising: a display panel having a front side and a back side, said display panel capable of being placed in a first display state which allows displaying of an image on said front side for viewing of an image and a second transmissive state wherein said display panel becomes substantially transmissive so as to allow capture of an image of an object positioned in front of said front side of said display panel; an image capture device for capturing said objective image through said display panel when said display device is in the second transmissive state; an image supply source for providing an image to said display panel when said display panel is in said first display state; a mechanism for alternating placing said display panel between said first display state and second transmissive state such that an image can be viewed on said display screen and said object can be captured in a manner such that said alternating between said first display state and said second transmissive state is substantially imperceptible to a user of said display panel.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said alternating of said display panel between said second transmissive and said first display state occurs at a rate substantially equal to or greater than about 24 cycles per second.
3. A display device according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a mirror position on the back side of the display panel which is used for directing said objective image to said image capture device.
4. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said display panel comprises an organic light emitting diode display panel.
5. A display device according to claim 3 wherein said image capture device is positioned at approximately 90 degree angle with respect to said display panel.
6. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said display panel comprises a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) and a liquid crystal (LCD) diffuser placed adjacent to said LCD panel and a light source for use in providing light so that said image may be displayed on said LCD panel.
7. A display device according to claim 6 further comprising a lamp for supplying light to said backside of LCD panel when said LCD panel is in said first display state.
8. A display device according to claim 7 further comprising a control for turning said lamp on and off such that said lamp is in the on position when said image is being displayed on said LCD panel and is off when said object is being captured.
9. A display device according to claim 8 wherein said liquid crystal display panel is positioned at a substantially 90 degree angle with respect to said liquid crystal display diffuser wherein said light source provided behind said LCD panel on which is projected onto a mirror which allows light to be projected onto said LCD diffuser; said camera being positioned behind said mirror which reflects light onto said diffuser.
10. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said transmission of said image of an object and said display of said image occur along the optical axis.
11. A method for displaying and capturing an image along a single optical axis, comprising steps of: providing a display panel that can be alternately placed in a first display state and a second transmissive state, said display panel when in said first display state allows an image to be displayed on said display panel and when placed in said second transmissive state allows transmission of an image of an object through said panel; providing an image capture device for capturing said image through said display panel of an object positioned in front of said display panel when said display panel is in said second transmissive state; and alternating said display panel between said first display state and said second transmissive state such that said image can be displayed on said display panel and an image of an object can be transmitted from the front side through said display panel for capturing by said image capture device in a manner such that said alternating between said first display state and said second transmissive state is substantially imperceptible to a user of said display panel.
12. A method according to the preceding claim 11 wherein said rate cycle occurs at a rate equal to or greater than about 24 cycles per second.
13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the image captured by said image capture device is manipulated to form an image representative of said object in front of said display panel.
14. A method according to claim 11 wherein the image captured by said image capture device is transmitted to a second display device.
15. A method according to claim 11 wherein the image displayed by said image capture device is received from a second display device.
16. A display device for transmitting and capturing an image, comprising: a display panel having a front side and a back side, said display panel capable of being placed in a first display state which allows displaying of an image on said front side for viewing of an image and a second transmissive state wherein said display panel becomes substantially transmissive so as to allow capture of an image of an object positioned in front of said front side of said display panel; an image capture device for capturing said objective image through said display panel when said display device is in the second transmissive state; an image supply source for providing an image to said display panel when said display panel is in said first display state, said image supply source being placed on an optical axis other than that of said image capture device; a mechanism for alternating placing said display panel between said first display state and second transmissive state such that an image can be viewed on said display screen and said object can be captured in a manner such that said alternating between said first display state and said second transmissive state is substantially imperceptible to a user of said display panel.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said alternating of said display panel between said first display state and said second transmissive state occurs at a rate substantially equal to or greater than about 24 cycles per second.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
August 4, 2004
September 2, 2008
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